UofMUSCLE.com – M.U.S.C.L.E. Figures from Mattel

Tiki Melee T.I.K.I. Figures
By Luke Johnson (Terrible Tiki)

Objective:
The Tiki Melee T.I.K.I. Figures were created by Luke Johnson under his Terrible Tiki brand. The three figure set includes: (1) a Ku figure; (2) a Moai figure; and (3) a Tangaroa-style tiki fighter.

The figures are available in five colors: (1) M.U.S.C.L.E. Flesh; (2) Green; (3) Gold; (4) Red; and (5) Blue. The set comes bagged with a header card.

The price of the three figure set is $19.99. As of writing, all of the colors are currently available on the Terrible Tiki Webstore. This set was not purchased. It was provided by Luke Johnson.

Subjective:
I can count on one hand the number of people that have provided figures at no cost for review. Believe it or not, that’s kind of a relief. I fill with dread thinking about receiving free figures I don’t like. When Luke contacted me my initial feeling was dread.

When I opened the package I was stunned. I think the figures look so cool in the packaging. They’re like a perfect little puzzle that interlocks and holds itself in place perfectly.

I think the header card is especially beautiful too. For a long time I put a lot of value in the packaging. More recently I have found myself caring less and less about it. This was the first time, in a longtime, that I had a moment of hesitation opening the pack.

I was stunned for a second time after the figures were in my hand. Minifigure artists have become masterful in creating M.U.S.C.L.E.-like textures. They’re never exact matches, but they feel familiar. These figures felt new and I loved the experience. Instead of feeling like a mix of M.U.S.C.L.E. and Kinkeshi these figures felt more like an awesome M.U.S.C.L.E./MUSCLEMANIA hybrid.

To me, the Ku figure felt like main figure in the set.

The reaction to Ku were three specific thoughts in a row: (1) love it; (2) which M.U.S.C.L.E. pieces did he use; and (3) maybe he used non-M.U.S.C.L.E. figures. I was getting ready to deep-dive and figure it out. I used to love knowing the pieces that made the sausage.

I don’t care this time. I just love the sausage.

It was actually freeing not worrying about the details. Plus, I’m pretty sure the artist did all the sculpting himself – which made me love the figures even more!

The Moai figure was the second figure I recognized.

Very specifically I can tell you why I like this figure. The artist kept the head recognizable without it looking out-of-place with the remaining body. This idea could have gone very, very poorly. It is shocking how perfectly the proportions worked.

If I had to blindly guess, then I would guess this figure was started and scrapped more than the other two.

The final Tangaroa-style tiki fighter was not recognizable to me.

And I don’t care.

Longtime readers might get tired of me talking about figures needing to inspire the imagination. This is the figure that brings the extra level of imagination gasoline. Is he an alien? Is he wearing a helmet? Is he the good guy or bad guy? Again, I don’t know – but I care because I’m curious.

When I initially saw these figures I thought they were quite a bit bigger than M.U.S.C.L.E. figures. To my surprise the scale is almost identical.

When I suggest adding a reviewed figure to your collection a cynic would probably say, “Of course you like it. You bought it.”

Fair enough. That same cynic would probably say, “You’re saying to buy these figures because you got them for free. You just want to be nice.”

Again, that’s hard to argue. I can fully understand why a cynic would/could say those things.

The cynic would be wrong. I think you should go to the Terrible Tiki Store, buy the figures, and then start following terrible_tiki on Instagram.

I believe it so much, that I’m going to giveaway a set of figures. I’m putting my money where my mouth is. I am giving away a set of figures. The rules are very simple:

1. Follow @uofmuscle on Instagram
2. Share the post and tag @uofmuscle
3. Winner is picked on 11/13

Good luck! You’ll love these figures. And even if you lose the contest, then you can still buy them.